| The best stock investment strategy for 2010 and | | | | S&P 500. |
| beyond will focus on a stock investment that is | | | | In one simple transaction you can buy shares in |
| actually an investment fund. This investment | | | | SPY which tracks the major market index that |
| strategy is easy to put into action and is the best | | | | the professionals follow and use as a benchmark, |
| way to simplify things for the average stock | | | | the S&P 500 Index. If the market is up you |
| investor. You can do it the hard way in 2010 and | | | | make money... if stocks are down you lose like |
| beyond, or you can learn about stock investment | | | | most everyone else. Then, you add investment |
| funds and do it the easy way. | | | | funds (ETFs) to your portfolio that track |
| Many people try to pick the best stock | | | | industries or sectors that were beaten up the |
| investment by pouring over the list of equities | | | | worst when stocks in general were falling. Avoid |
| (stocks) traded on the major exchanges. That | | | | those that have already reached new highs. |
| gives you about 5000 choices. Others try to pick | | | | For example, the gold sector was cold for years |
| the best investment fund from the equity | | | | before it took off and gold prices hit all-time highs. |
| category offered by a specific mutual fund family. | | | | It's too late to get rich here in 2010 and going |
| This limits your choices, but also your | | | | forward for a few years. On the other hand, the |
| opportunities; since few families offer a wide | | | | real estate industry has been hammered in recent |
| array of specialty or sector funds that specialize | | | | times. Stocks and funds that invest in that sector |
| in a particular industry. | | | | lost up to 90% when the financial crisis unfolded, |
| The best stock investment strategy for 2010 and | | | | and are still way under water. Your best stock |
| going forward is to focus on industries and | | | | investment in 2010 or in the years that follow |
| sectors that have been out of favor and will | | | | could very well be an ETF that tracks the real |
| eventually be top performers when a real | | | | estate sector. Symbol URE is one such fund, and |
| economic recovery takes hold. The economy is | | | | gives investor 2 to 1 leverage in the process. |
| not out of the woods yet, as the jury is still out | | | | If you are new to the world of investing, your |
| in regard to our financial system and the big | | | | best stock investment strategy is to focus on |
| banks that created the financial crisis. | | | | the investment funds (ETFs) that trade on |
| Unemployment is still at unacceptable levels and | | | | exchanges and offer just about any category of |
| the real estate market is still in a funk. Where will | | | | investment conceivable. For example, how else |
| the big profits be when the financial storm | | | | could you invest in equities, bonds, commodities, |
| eventually passes? | | | | or foreign securities without years and years of |
| You'll find your best stock opportunities in the | | | | experience? Go to your broker's site or other |
| sectors that were previously beat up severely. | | | | financial site and get familiar with the various |
| Now, let's talk investment strategy. You will want | | | | categories of ETFs that are available. Or search |
| to have a primary equity holding in the form of | | | | "ETF" on the internet. |
| an equity investment fund that moves with the | | | | I've been an active investor for 35 years. Today, |
| market. That's a lot easier than picking individual | | | | 90% of my investing activity is in exchange |
| issues and putting together your own portfolio. | | | | traded funds. I like to be able to play gold, real |
| You can buy into the general market by simply | | | | estate, and other sectors the quick and easy |
| buying shares in an ETF (exchange traded fund) | | | | way without the risk associated with the likes of |
| that tracks a major market index like the | | | | commodities contracts and options contracts. |